Concert Review: John Corabi and Mike Tramp at Vamp’d in Las Vegas, NV on 21-Mar-2014

Friday March 21, 2014 brought a co-headlining, acoustic performance to Vampâ€™d In Las Vegas, Nevada.Â Featuring John Corabi (The Scream, Motley Crue) and Mike Tramp (White Lion, Freak of Nature), the show was a satisfying evening of stripped down rock music.Â For me, it was a last minute decision to go and Iâ€™m thrilled I did.

Admittedly, I was hesitant to check out John Corabi. As a die-hard Motley Crue fan, I never supported the album that he was a part of out of my misguided loyalty to the original Crue line up.

Sitting alone on stage, long hair brushing the top of his shoulders, â€˜John Lennon glassesâ€™ shielding his eyes, and sporting a full beard reminiscent of the late Jim Morrisson, Corabi looked decidedly more hippie than rock and roll.Â I liked it.Â The look worked for him and paired well with the toned-down acoustic performance.

Iâ€™ve attended many acoustic shows in the past that came off a bit more electric and plugged in, but this was not the case here.Â One man, perched atop one stool, strumming an acoustic guitar, and not a single backing track.Â The performance was stripped down in its most literal sense. Corabi came off as sincere, laid back, and completely at home on stage.

Playing selections from his solo album, The Scream, a bit of Aerosmith, and of course the obligatory, Hooligans Holiday, the set included everything any fan could ask for.

In between songs, he told stories that were in depth and genuine.Â The intimate crowd at Vampâ€™d hung on every word in a most respectful and intrigued fashion.

I found Corabiâ€™s performance heartwarming and heart breaking; positive and at times funny.Â It was actually pretty emotional.Â It might be difficult not to be in such a state given the vulnerable setting I suppose, but everything seemed very natural and not at all forced.

Musically, his guitar playing was perfect; melding warm tones and passionate fret work.Â The vocals were instinctively strong and clear.Â Corabi possesses a talent his longtime fans are well aware of, which I had previously been closed off to.

Following a short break, White Lionâ€™s Mike Tramp, took the stage for a similar acoustic performance.

Still looking very much the rock star that he is, Tramp was alone, with only his guitar as well.Â Unlike Corabi, Tramp did have some backing percussion on some songs, but it didnâ€™t sound unnecessary and worked well with the selections.

At times I found myself closing my eyes to take in the full intensity of his voice. Thankfully itÂ was later justified when Tramp stated, â€œItâ€™s OK to close your eyes; donâ€™t jump around â€˜cuz the music doesnâ€™t call for it.â€

The performance was powerful and full of feeling.Â While White Lion may sometimes get the typical 80â€™s ‘hair metalâ€™ distinction bestowed upon them, make no mistake, they had many complex and insightful songs. Thereâ€™s nothing empty about When the Children Cry or Little Fighter.Â These are songs you feel due to lyrics with deep, heart-felt meaning.

Tramp dove into his catalog of solo songs, as well as tunes from his band, Freak of Nature.Â Even though I didnâ€™t know many of them, their impact wasnâ€™t lost on me.Â You most certainly donâ€™t have to know every word to every song to feel it.

Tramp had a grasp of this as well, honoring the old, but definitely making it known that he is current and living in the now.Â Speaking to the crowd with statements like, â€œJust accept that this is now and that was then.â€, he acknowledged that although we all hold the music of the 80â€™s and 90â€™s in our hearts, the best may actually be yet to come.

Just as Corabi had done before him, he offered were many personal stories, insight into the meaning behind songs, and musical antidotes that youâ€™d never be privy to, except in an intimate setting such as this.

As the theme of the night continued, the crowd remained alert, engaged, and receptive to all of it.Â It was a vibe I have never experienced at Vampâ€™d or any other venue before and I found it refreshing, inspiring, and introspective.

Tramps voice is unwavering, never out of tune, and full of legitimate talent.Â The guitar parts were ideal for this type of performance.

Closing out with the White Lion version of Golden Earring’sÂ Radar Love was the perfect ending to an amazing night of music.

After the show, Tramp stayed around to meet fans and take photos, never once seeming as if he was unhappy to do so.Â Every picture I saw with every fan appeared sincere.

All in all, I feel fortunate I decided to give this performance a chance.Â My suggestion is that you do the same.Â It may not be the typical, high energy rock show you are accustomed to, but it may be just what you need.

SHARE THIS:

About The Author

Originating from Michigan, Kelly is currently residing in Las Vegas, NV. Her passion for music began at a Motley CrÃ¼e show, and since then has attended hundreds of shows, met many musicians along the way, and has continued her drive to keep rock music in the limelight. Her experiences contribute to her success as a book reviewer for Vegas Rocks Magazine and as one of the Assistant Editors for the NRR.